Trump Himself

In other news, the FBI has arrested a man in Massachusetts who threatened to kill President Obama, Muslims, and police officers. The FBI was reportedly tipped off by an acquaintance who said he stockpiled weapons and bomb-making materials to prepare for the coming martial law. Another possible massacre avoided.

Meanwhile, the Oregonian has produced a lengthy, excellent profile of their own local extremist threat, so-called “constitutional sheriff” Glenn Palmer. You may recall that Palmer invited the Bundy militiamen over for a visit during their occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge so they could autograph his pocket copy of the Constitution.

Finally, actor and comedian Gene Wilder passed away today at the age of 83 after suffering from Alzheimer’s.

I’ve been trying to remember how old I was the first time I saw Blazing Saddles, but almost everything I know about satire I learned from watching Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. I couldn’t have been more than 13 at the time and it was the first time I truly understood and appreciated the power of satire. For me, that power wouldn’t be matched until Stephen Colbert hit the air.

I believe if you educate and make people laugh at the same time, they’re more likely to internalize and remember it.

Gene Wilder was one of my favorite actors growing up. His nephew says that he passed listening to Ella Fitzgerald (his favorite singer) singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Thank you for sharing your gift with us, Gene.